What can be done with an undergraduate Philosophy degree? Anything!

In pursuit of reasonable answers to fundamental questions, a student of Philosophy
develops the ability to read critically, to reason well both orally and through analytical
writing, and to ask relevant and interesting questions. While the development of these
skills may be personally beneficial in enhancing one's self-understanding, they translate
into specific skills that are vital to success in many professions. After all, everyone
has to do these things at least occasionally. While a great many Philosophy majors
do go on to a graduate program (in Philosophy, law, medicine, etc.) where these skills
are used in an academic or an otherwise obvious way on a daily basis, there are a
host of fields where the skills honed as a Philosophy major are the gateway to professional
success. Some of those fields might surprise you. Compiling a list of well-known Philosophers
is easy. But contemporary Philosophers tend not to be famous. Here is a list of some
famous contemporary Philosophy majors who have used their critical thinking skills
to "some" success:

Rahm Emanuel -- Mayor of Chicago, IL

David Souter -- Supreme Court Justice

Wes Anderson -- Filmmaker, writer

Mary Higgins Clark -- Mystery writer

Ethan Coen -- Oscar winning filmmaker, writer

Elie Wiesel -- Writer

Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Civil rights Leader and Nobel laureate

Pope John Paul II -- Pope

Phil Jackson -- All-time winning coach of the NBA

Woody Allen -- Oscar winning filmmaker, writer, actor

Harrison Ford -- Actor

Bruce Lee -- Actor and martial arts expert

Jay Leno -- Comedian and host of The Tonight Show

Gene Siskel -- Film critic

Steve Martin -- Comedian, actor

Dennis Miller -- Comedian

Susan Sarandon -- Oscar winning actress

Alex Trebek -- Host of Jeopardy

David Duchovny -- Actor

Carl Icahn -- Business magnate

Terrence Malick -- Filmmaker, director, and screenwriter

Admittedly, by majoring or minoring in Philosophy, you probably will not win an Academy
Award, an Emmy Award, an NBA championship, a Nobel Prize, or even become a millionaire.
But the real "reward" from pursuing Philosophy does not come from external sources.
It comes from within. And it comes from pursuing knowledge for its own sake. If this
or the skills you master by being a Philosophy major matter to you, then we as a department
welcome you. The Department of Philosophy at the University of New Orleans offers
a variety of courses to help the student develop their own philosophical interests,
as well as cultivate their basic skills for philosophizing and reasoning -- skills
that will translate into success no matter what you choose to do.